Michelle Wilkinson on Moving Marks Installation – Follow Up

Michelle Wilkinson is a movement artist and practitioner based in East Devon. As part of Dance in Devon’s Dance Card Michelle has written a blog following her current project ‘Moving Marks Installation’ March 19th – May 3rd at the Neo:gallery in a shopping precinct in Bolton. The project is supported by Dance in Devon’s Dance Card, Arts Council England, Grants for Arts, Wigan Leisure & Culture Trust, Small Things Collective and Neo:artists.

“What an amazing opportunity to create and move in the heart of a busy Bolton shopping centre. A large empty fashion shop has become home to the neo:gallery who hold regular art exhibitions. Here with fellow dance/movement artist Catherine Hawkins, visual artists Pauline Dyer (Devon) and Jayne Seddon (Manchester) an environment evolved in response to the body, land and seascapes. ‘Fascinating! Makes me realise how much of nature we let pass by in our busy world – when we are gone it will remain…we should listen while we can …loved it!’ a visitor comments.

The music and chatter of the shoppers outside, the crash of waves on rocks from my wall-sized projected ‘Rock Haven’ film surrounded the delicate cocooned white of my womb sac movement world. A visitor says ‘ Love her movements…really relaxed… pulls you into a daydream’ .

Soft sculpture spines spring up and down echoed by Catherine’s bodily bounce and the constant rise and fall of the pedestrian lifts outside visible through the gallery glass. A visitor describes the installation as ‘very tactile’ and ‘wanted to play with the fabric sculpture spines’ which they could.”

“This installation finishes on Sunday May 3rd and is open Thursday to Sunday each week 11am – 5pm. It is at neo:gallery 27 The Market Place, Bolton, BL1 2AL. There are two visual records of the installation on my website www.movingnaturally.co.uk One is ‘Womb Sac’ at the top of the Video Page and the other a collection of wonderful images by photographer Leila Romaya, ‘Moving Marks Installation Images’ on the Artist Page.

A big thank you to Dance in Devon’s ‘Dance Card’ which supported me in this adventure.”
(Michelle Wilkinson)